J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

With the page turned horizontally, the setting is presumably Boulogne’s harbour, looking north-west towards the sea between low cliffs; those to the right are seen on the recto (D19330), one of a series of more readily identified scenes in the vicinity, which has seen much redevelopment. Various figures and moored sailing boats are loosely dashed in, with the closest attention reserved for a bonneted woman in the foreground, deftly rendered with her ‘Striped Cloak’ just catching the breeze. There is another study of figures and boats on folio 248 verso (D19333).

Compare the studies of cloaked women at Ghent earlier in the tour, on folios 208 recto and verso (D19252–D19253). See under folio 241 verso (D19319) for other Boulogne views, and the sketchbook’s Introduction for discussion of its many shipping and figure subjects, and studies of individuals, their costume and headgear.